Cadillac XLR Complaints

80 consumer complaints on file.

#11711077January 15, 2026
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was an abnormal sound like a shotgun being fired overhead. The contact pulled over and observed that the retractable fiberglass roof panel had detached from the frame of the vehicle. The contact stated that the headliner, cables, and pulleys used to retract the roof were exposed. The contact was unable to recover the panel. The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The contact was informed that the roof panel could be replaced out-of-pocket. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11590209May 22, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The roof panel that was only attached with adhesive has detached from the frame of the car. This has also caused the retractable convertible top to stop working. I have read about the roof of many of these cars flying off while driving down the road. It is only a matter of time before this poor defect causes serious injury and/ or significant property damage. I called cadillac customer service and they refused to offer any help. I recently spoke to a local body shop about getting it repaired and the estimate was upward of 1000 dollars
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11577222March 13, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Brake were dragging I came to a stop .Checked the parking brake. Then after releasing the parking brake. The car wouldn't move until I pushed the traction control button. Drove 1/2 mile stopped and again the brakes were locked up. Call [XXX] Thanx INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11533527July 20, 2023
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH in the rain, the contact heard wind coming from the area where the front roof panel was connected to the windshield. The roof panel then detached and separated from the vehicle. The contact pulled into a service station to get out of the rain. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 113,420.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11517552April 18, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Driving home and the roof came off. Didn't realize what had happened thought the seal was broken
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11515175April 3, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
Will Cadillac do a recall on roof coming off as driving? Cost me $759.00 for the roof and $550.00 for the Vera the Cadillac dealer to install the roof And NO RECALL ON A $120,000.00 DOLLAR CAR I'M MAD AS HELL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514229March 28, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
My 2005 Cadillac XLR Was Being Towed To Vera Cadillac Dealership And The Roof Flew Off The Car [XXX] Why Was This Not A Recall ? Thank You [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11513569March 24, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
I broke down with a bad shifter cable so I called a tow truck 4 hr later he gets to the car, he puts on the tow truck and takes off for the Vera Cadillac dealer. AND THE ROOF BLUE OFF CAME OFF THE CAR AND BROKE And Cadillac knew they had the problem but NEVER RECALLED THEM NOW WHAT DO I DO ?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11480261August 19, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
The top roof panel separated while driving on the highway, and almost struck another vehicle causing it to swerve to miss it. The vehicle then proceeded to follow me as he though I was to blame. Once I got off the highway he got out of his car an violently started screaming at me for almost causing an accident.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11479731August 17, 2022
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated that fuel had begun to leak from the fuel pump without warning. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure and informed him that while the motor was running, the fuel would leak from the rear driver's side wheel; the leak would stop once the engine was shut off. The mechanic later discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 11E009000(Fuel System, Gasoline) which he linked to the failure. The dealer was notified and an appointment was made for a diagnostic. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 24,089.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477797August 5, 2022
ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated there were strong fumes coming from the vehicle. The contact parked his vehicle in the garage and then leave it partially cracked due to the fumes. The contact changed the gas cap; however, the fumes continues. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer regarding the failure; however, it was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11441992November 29, 2021
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud whistling sound coming inside the vehicle. The contact looked up and noticed that the sunroof glass had detached from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and retrieved the sunroof glass. The vehicle was then towed to an auto body shop to be inspected. The contact was informed that there was a defect in the glue used to secure the sunroof to the sunroof assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11440408November 14, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
My roof panel is separating from the roof frame of my 04 Cadillac XLR. If it come off it will cause property damage to another vehicle or death! It a GM defect that should be recall !!!! Thanks!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434620September 28, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
Was driving on interstate and top panel on convertible top flew off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400093March 10, 2021
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE SUNROOF DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAPITAL CADILLAC (2210 COBB PKWY SE, SMYRNA, GA 30080) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11399829March 8, 2021
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING AT 45MPH THEN THE CAR SURGED TO THE LEFT. I GOT CONTROL THEN IN SERVICE STABLE TRACTION WARNING AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT APPEARED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11399831March 8, 2021
POWER TRAIN
DRIVING AT STEADY 45 MPH THEN THE REAR OF THE CAR SURGED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT.I GAINED CONTROL BUT THE THE SERVICE STABLETRAK WARNING AND THE TRACTION CONTROL OFF LIGHT CAME ONE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11309062February 13, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED A 2004 XLR IN 2019 FROM AN AGENT IN FL. I IMMEDIATELY OR WITH-IN 200 MILES I BEGAN TO RECEIVE MESSAGES ON MY DASH! FIRST IT WAS TRACTION CONTROL THAT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND CAUSED THE CAR TO VET VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT AS SOON AS I HIT 65 MILES AN HOUR. THEN THE CHECK GAS CAP FOLLOWED BY CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. MY CADILLAC DEALER WAS AT A LOSS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH TRACTION CONTROL UNTIL THEY CONTACTED THE CORVETTE ENGINEERS IN BOWLING GREEN, WHICH TOOK A WEEK! THEY REPLACED THE GAS CAP AND THAT PROBLEM WENT AWAY ONLY TEMPORALLY! ON FURTHER INSPECTION THE TECH'S AT MY LOCAL CADDY DEALER DETERMINED BY A SMOKE TEST THAT THE CROSSOVER HOSE BETWEEN THE TANKS WAS LEAKING! THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF CLOSE TO A $8000.00 REPAIR! THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 54,000 MI. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND I AM SEEING THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING IN THIS MODEL YEAR PERHAPS BECAUSE OF ENGINEERING CHANGES MADE TO CONFORM TO GOVERNMENT EMISSIONS STANDARD CONTROLS! I AM RESEARCHING ALTERNATIVES TO HAVING THE REPAIR DONE BY MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS THEY REALLY DON'T SEEM TO BE VERY CAPABLE. THE CAP HAS BEEN CHANGED TWICE AND THE SAME PROBLEMS REOCCUR!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11243947August 14, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHERE THE WINDSHIELD MET THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD THAT THE CONTACT COULD NOT DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE DISTRACTION. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE ROOF WOULD DETACH AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11235351July 28, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE QUITS DURING NORMAL DRIVING, THIS CONDITION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER PULLING OVER AND SHIFTING INTO "PARK" ENGINE WILL RESTART NORMALLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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